We were seated right away when we arrived, great service, the margaritas were delicious !! My daughter and I ordered the " Cochinita Pibill " it was delicious came with black beans and Rice, we had ordered Guacamole it was home made Came with "Chicharrón Never had it served that way, it was delicious. They had patio sitting we sat indoors since it was a cold night. I definitely recommend and will return. read more

El Portal - Cochinita pub Diet Coke - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Pleasantly surprised at how much I loved this place. I was nervous because it had 3.5 stars on Yelp. Idk why. It was such a lovely experience. I came with my husband and family. We celebrated my mom and my birthday. They allowed us to bring our own cake from Portos. It's such a lovely place! The ambiance is intimate so it is perfect for a date or low key event. The food came out so quickly and everyone loved their food. They offer complimentary chips and salsa. Our table ordered shrimp tacos, chilaquiles, mole enchiladas (chicken), and two chicken fajitas. Everything was absolutely delicious. My mom is incredibly picky and she didn't have one complaint. We didn't order alcohol but I had El Pepino mocktail. It was refreshing and delicious. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating. The staff were friendly and attentive. Highly recommend. read more

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What I like about El Portal is not only do you get good food and service, but also how they mix up the menu with specials. This is the local Pasadena go to for a good time, good food and relaxed atmosphere There is a charm to this place that's appreciated by the locals and a quaint discovery for out of owners. read more

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El Portal never disappoints! The patio is absolutely lovely -- a great spot to relax and soak in the atmosphere. We started with the guacamole, which was fresh and delicious, served with chips and salsa. A must-order have. We were only there for drinks. Our waitress was attentive, polite, and made the whole experience feel welcoming. The vibe here is consistently great, which keeps us coming back. One small note: the beer bottles could be served a bit colder -- but honestly a minor detail when everything else hits the mark. Highly recommend El Portal for a fun, laid-back meal with great food. read more

El Portal - Love this vibe. - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

Amazing . I love this place . We came for Mother's Day and everything was so lovely . The food and dessert were delicious. They had mariachi and it was Sunday brunch' special . Great price for a great time . Everyone was so nice and the ambiance was amazing. read more

We had tickets to a show at Pasadena Playhouse so we're looking for someplace close by. El Portal is basically across the street at the Arcade shopping area. It was a lovely dinner, very pleasant with live music playing. We sat outside had a lovely cool breeze on a warm day. At our table we ordered the Yucatán Trio, el Portal Tostada and a combination with chile relleno, chicken enchilada, and pork taco. We also had a slice of flan for dessert. The food was delicious and service was excellent. read more

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I really enjoyed eating here. This restaurant is tucked away in Pasadena and really works to immerse you with the themed decor. Super immersive and cute. Such a solid spot for authentic Mexican cuisine. Charming through and through. Both the indoor and outdoor area are themed and delightful and I don't think either one is better or worse, in fact I want to come again just to spend more time inside because I was super happy with the outside alleyway seating and would love to bring others to enjoy it as well. I thought the crunchy tacos were excellent. Usually I'm not much of a chicken taco fan but I thought these ones were super good and savory. Service was spot on. Atmosphere was authentic and festive. Food was perfection. Can't ask for anything more! read more

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This Mexican restaurant is hidden off of Green Street with private parking lot. The whole lot is festive for the holidays and decorated for Christmas. The choices are many, but the fish tacos had my name on it. Our waiter was quick to bring our dinner and was nice about keeping up with our orders. The plus for this restaurant is got 500 more frequent flyer miles by dining here! read more

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We went in on happy hour just after 3:00 and were told the only special was $10.00 margaritas and $3.00 tacos. Turns out the bill is $55.00 before tip for 2 margaritas and 2 fish tacos. What??? It will be another two years before I come back again like happened last time. El Portal, can you do better with attentive customer service? read more

Happy hour is until 6 which is a win in my books. I noticed some places are only until 5 these days not even 5:30.. 11$ happy hour drinks (margaritas and Paloma's are strong) and 11$ for 2 large beef flautas. You can add a side of beans for 5$. The bar can get packed and busy, so be prepared to be patient especially if the one bartender is making drinks for the entire restaurant. My main squeeze got a chicken fajita burrito (which he said was better than the carne asada one, surprisingly) -- definitely check this place out and get an outside table if you come with a group. The patio is nice read more

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It's a fairly nice restaurant in terms of atmosphere. The service is great--the waiters are very sweet and attentive. However, a word of caution: I got the worst stomachache after eating here. Not sure what caused it, but I usually don't have this problem. Tortilla Soup (complimentary from the waiter due to me picking no beans in my taco) - Very well-seasoned and flavorful. It had tortilla strips, cheese, and guacamole in it. 2 Carne Asada Soft Tacos ($23) - Pretty good, though I'm not sure they were completely worth the price. They do come with a generous serving of rice, but these definitely weren't the best tacos I've had. I probably wouldn't come back here any time soon. read more

El Portal - #15 Two Soft Tacos of Carne Asada Combo - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Pretty solid spot. The ambiance is very nice and their outdoor patio is *the* best on a beautiful sunny day. Food was tasty- we had 2 of their burritos (carne asada and pork). Solid 7/10. I had a mango margarita which was very yummy but definitely on the weaker side in terms of alcohol. Service was quick. read more

El Portal - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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This is a pretty decent restaurant. Staff was very nice, location was clean and food was good. Portions were good size and pricing was fair. We arrived at about 5pm on a Friday night and it was fairly empty, but by about 6pm, it was pretty packed. So if you're going to go, be prepared to wait. The only issue encountered was lack of attention to the table. No one really checked on us to offer refills or if we needed anything. It may just be due to the staffing though, so it's all ok. They were great when we were able to flag them down. read more

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Armando took such great care of us! We tried the cheeseburger for cheeseburger week then it was delicious! We sat outside and it was a beautiful sunny day. Parking was easy in the back. Prices were very reasonable. read more

8 of us were going to the Pasadena Playhouse and decided to have dinner here before going to the show and were glad we did and made reservations as outside tables were pretty full and listening to a 3 piece band playing music. My wife really enjoyed her vegetarian tostada and I enjoyed my chicken tacos. One of the interesting things on the menu, and it's on many meals, is that one taco was $19 and two tacos a total of $21. All 8 of us enjoyed our meals and although we didn't know the songs, the 3 band members came inside at one point and played. And to not forget, Raul C was a good server. read more

El Portal did a great job of helping make my mom's 95th birthday lunch very special. We were in a private room and treated very well by all staff. From the time I booked Daniel was very accommodating and Rudolfo was an excellent server who always had a smile on his face. All of our guests really enjoyed their food and we never felt rushed. It was an all around a wonderful day! Thank you!! read more

El Portal - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

The pumpkin soup was hands down one of the best! A must try when available on their seasonal fall menu. Topped with infused olive oil and pepita seeds. Sooooo good! I would definitely go back just for a bowl. Chile relleno had that melty cheese spilling out with each fork full. Chicken taco for Ray and a enchilada for the mama. A la carte or in a meal. Service was great, food was substantial but the star was the pumpkin soup. After packaging up our left overs chips and salsa was our dessert of choice. Plenty to choose from on their traditional menu offerings. A beautiful venue for a small intimate dinner or for larger group gatherings. The ambiance on their patio is divine for an evening out. It's a courtyard right in front of their restaurant surrounded by little cute shops. They do have mariachi's performing table by table so it does get a little harder to have conversations. If you're into it, it'll be enjoyable. Heaters kept us nice and toasty. Free parking for dine in customers! The attendant will assist you. What an enjoyable first visit to celebrate our "cousinsgiving" read more

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Preface- Thanks to my Yelp friends, I've been lucky in finding great eateries and establishments in the Pasadena area. And this luck did not stop here! El Portal located on Colorado Blvd. in the center of Pasadena town. it's in a strip mall or strip office building. You will have to walk into the courtyard to find it. Indoor dining and patio dining available. In the winters they fire up their heaters and lamps in the patio. Food decent. Service decent. Ambiance decent and I consider it to be as authentic as one can be in the area you are at to luck out and find a Yucatan eatery. Guacamole made fresh to order. The carne asada was seasoned well and I had it served as a taco. Mariachi band on site and table roam. Price reasonable. Go there or be square! read more

El Portal - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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El Portal is a solid spot for Mexican food. I got the Carne Asada burrito and it hit the spot, was absolutely delicious. The service was fast and friendly. The restaurant is large, clean but filled up fast! Street parking or validated lots are easy and convenient. Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area! read more

Busy lunch time spot even on a weekday! Clearly a good spot with many regulars in search of authentic Mexican food. Guacamole with chicharones made in house is a hit. The sizzling fajitas are also a win. Highly recommend for group meal, happy hour, and any special occasion. Heard there's mariachi bands too great vibes on weekends. read more

El Portal - Lomos Saltado - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Our family had a wonderful meal here, and it's a rare find for vegetarians since their beans and rice are made without lard or chicken broth. The food was delicious and the service was excellent. read more

Great for large or small groups. Food and drinks were delicious during happy hour and you got more choices in the regular menu as well. Our service was attentive and we got our request and refills as needed. Private parking but scan the QR code inside the restaurant to register your car. read more

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This place is one of the special spots. It's tucked away in a gorgeous walkway surrounded by local shops. The restaurant feels welcoming, comfy, a place of warmth, live music, and good times run by long time locals. I would highly recommend if you're looking for a relaxing romantic night out. The service was quick and attentive. The food was yummy hot and fresh! read more

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The restaurant has a parking lot but it may be full if it's busy. This is a great spot for group gatherings. There's comfortable outdoor seating, and the staff are very nice. You get complimentary tortilla chips for your table. The food is decently priced as you get a large portion of food. There's a lot on the menu that I would go back to try. read more

El Portal - Enchiladas de Mole Special - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

The food here was just okay in my opinion, not the greatest Mexican food. I got the Yucatan Trio and it was decent. The dishes weren't too salty and the meat was moist which was good. I wasn't the biggest fan of the tamale though, it was a bit slimy. I also found a small hair in my rice. The prices are also pretty high for Mexican food and the quality of what we had didn't justify the price. The service was great though. The servers were nice and attentive. The vibes inside and outside were nice as well. There was a musician playing outside. The bathroom wasn't the cleanest though, the floors were pretty greasy. read more

El Portal - Yucatan Trio Special - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

Lots of seating inside and out. We parked on the street but I think there's a parking lot too. Service was attentive and prompt. We shared a Yucatán sampler which was good for 2 not so hungry people. Everything was delicious esp the black bean soup. We got the Cadillac margarita. The large size which was good for two people as well.....Though I've had better margaritas. Solid dependable food is what I'd call this place. read more

El Portal - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Short Review: Really great Yucatán/Mexican restaurant with excellent tasting food, a nice indoor/outdoor option, and very friendly service - including a serenading Mariachi band. You should try it! Long Review: Not every Mexican restaurant is the same - and El Portal is proof of that. You can tell how good a place is by the number of regulars that frequent it, and that is definitely El Portal. The first smart thing they did was make the entrance off of Green Street instead of Colorado. It would just get lost on that busy street, but by having the entrance face a much less busy and prettier, tree-lined street you automatically feel welcomed in. There is plenty of ample parking in front too - a nice bonus. When you walk up, you have a generous outdoor seating area that is surrounded by several small boutiques and other shops, so you're sitting amongst an arcade of shops. It's super cute! And yes, there are outdoor heaters. You're welcomed in with friendly smiles and the service is just great. They are very attentive and the choice of food and drink is phenomenal. Case in point: there is a very high end sipping tequila called Dame Mas. Not many Mexican restaurants have it, as it's very expensive (usually $20-$40 per glass) but when I asked the bartender if they had, he pulled it right out and poured me a glass. I ordered my usual favorite at any Mexican restaurant- the enchiladas- and they were really, very good. A little better than most places, so I was thrilled. I highly recommend this spot. It's great for catching up with friends, or a group, or just date night. read more

We had a nice dinner in the courtyard of this beautiful Mexican restaurant. It was a very hot day but we wanted to see a Dodgers game which was shown on a big screen outside. We enjoyed the fun and friendly atmosphere, and the food was great! read more

El Portal - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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The outdoor patio was absolutely what we needed at the end of a busy week! We came on a Friday and they had live music, it was wonderful. The food was okay(not bad) but I think you come here for the ambiance rather than the food. Service was good, everyone very helpful. read more

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Not too too bad, a little soso in the flavors and unfortunately very understaffed but the staff is kind and friendly. Love the vibes and decor though. read more

El Portal - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

Meh! Hadn't heard of this place so we had no expectations. It was okay, but nothing to write home about. Our server sat us then forgot about us. The guacamole wasn't very authentic and it took forever to get the servers attention. Maybe it was an off day... read more

Attended another one of PCC (my local JC, Pasadena City College, CA)., sponsored community events this year through my Windows10 Professor who apparently holds connections with City of Pasadena,'s Mayor, Mr. Victor Gordo. Well....that was some humble Mayor: he sent himself as an extra bartender for 'El Porto,' on Mexican Independence Day/2024. As you can see from my shared pics below, I even got to meet and greet the Mayor for a group photo shoot in 1 of my PCC tops. Seriously can't beat this. This is the first time I've met Any local City Mayor. Nice meeting you, Mr. Victor Gordo. It was seriously Our pleasure to have you join us for our Spanish Windows10 class dinner celebration. What an honor!!!! read more

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This place was great and after 10 years it is still wonderful. Great food and great chef. Highly recommended. read more

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Great spot to take a date or a group of friends! The food is great and the staff are really friendly and attentive. I recommend eating outside, they have heaters outside with lots of available seating. And the lights outside are a vibe. The Braised Pork was my absolute favorite. The pork just melted in my mouth and the veggies and the polenta was so good together. read more

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Firstly, they have outdoor booths!! LOVE that!! My daughter and her bestie ordered blended margaritas. Both of them said they did not detect any tequila. I tasted and agreed. I took them into the bartender and expressed this and saw him add tequila (from a Cuervo bottle). Took them back to them and still, no taste of tequila. I've had MANY a margarita and still, no taste of alcohol at all. $15 each. They did not experience a buzz either. Pretty SUS!!! The food was marginal at best. The guacamole was plain Jane. I highly don't recommend this restaurant. Way better Mexican out there. We chose it for the patio. Oh well!! read more

This is a solid Mexican restaurant with Veracruz Mexico influence in some of their dishes. Everything is super tasty and large portions. Service is quick and friendly. Loved that they have a fun trio playing music on Sunday dinner service. Parking is free in the lot. read more

Have been coming here for months. Love the service and the food. Today I was disappointed to find out that they are charging for parking if you stay over an hour. I guess I should've not ordered that extra margarita. I'm either going to park on the street or eat my food very fast and only order one margarita. Or maybe find a new place. read more

4 stars As far as Mexican restaurants go, this one is clean, comfortable, & stylish. They have both indoor & outdoor seating with outdoors having plenty of shade & plants. My mom & I ordered the chicken enchilada plate($21?) & the chicken fajita burrito ($25). The food tasted amazing. Our favorite had to be the enchiladas because the sauce was just that good! The chicken fajita burrito was good & we liked how lean the grilled chicken was. Also, before we ordered, the servers brought out chips & salsa. The salsa was tasty, but my mom thought the salsa was too spicy for her. The servers were attentive & polite. They brought my dog a water bowl, which was really nice of them! As other parties started coming in, the place got really busy & getting the check became a challenge for us. But that was resolved when I decided to pay at the front. Overall, had a wonderful experience & will likely be back with mom & dog. read more

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We had a family gathering in the back room at El Porto, and the service was terrible. It took over 30 minutes just for someone to take my drink order. For a big party, they only had one server working in the back, which makes no sense and left everyone waiting far too long. When I paid for my beverages, they never brought back my change which was about $10 and I shouldn't have to ask for money that's mine. The food itself was just okay, nothing special, and definitely could be better. Between the poor service, missing change, and disappointing food, this was an awful experience. I will not be coming back, and I won't be recommending El Porto to anyone. read more

Came to celebrate Cinco De Mayo! We were able to make a reservation since it would likely be busy on the holiday. We were seated fairly quickly and had our order taken in a few minutes. We first ordered the sampler to try a bit of everything, which was delicious. The house-made salsa and chips were another great addition. For a main course, I went for the Chicken Tamale and Taco Combo. Pretty big portions if you're not someone with a big appetite. It might be wise to go light on the appetizer or split a plate with someone! We were expecting a mariachi performance that was listed for that night, but unfortunately, they never came out! Huge bummer, but we were still able to have a good time! Overall was a great experience and I would love to come back. Great food and drinks for any occasion. I'll definitely be back when I'm craving for a spicy marg! read more

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